Kansas City Royals 2018 Season Preview
The Kansas City Royals window of contention appears to have closed. Could the Royals surprise everyone with one last run to the playoffs?
Last season, the Kansas City Royals were at a crossroads. As the trade deadline approached, they were in possession of one of the two Wild Cards, giving hope for another deep run in the playoffs. However, key players like Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, and Mike Moustakas were set to be free agents after the season.
Looking to make one last stand, the Royals went for it, delaying the rebuild for one more run. That move failed in spectacular fashion, as Kansas City plummeted down the standings in the final two months of the season. They ended the year at 80-82, a decent record, but out of the postseason. Hosmer and Cain departed as free agents, leaving the Royals with nothing more than draft picks and international signing bonus money.
It appeared as though the Royals rebuild was coming when Hosmer signed in San Diego. However, a slow free agent market led to several signings, including the unexpected return of Moustakas. There is a bit more optimism around the Royals chances this season than there had been even a month ago, as it would appear as though there may be a chance at another playoff run.
Is that hope misplaced? Can the Kansas City Royals actually make another run in 2018? Let us take a look and find out.
Kansas City Royals additions and subtractions
Key additions: Jon Jay, Lucas Duda, Brad Keller, Clay Buchholz
Newcomer to watch: Lucas Duda. His place in Kansas City Royals lore already secure, Duda has come to town as a bridge at first.
There is no questioning the power that Duda has in his bat when healthy. Even in a down season, when he produced a .217/.322/.496 batting line during his time with the Mtes and Rays, he still slugged 30 homers. His signing gives the Royals another legitimate power bat to pair with Mike Moustakas in the lineup.
Obviously, Duda is not Eric Hosmer at first. He has nowhere near the defensive pedigree, or the all around game on offense. But he does have a solid power bat, and on a one year deal, can be a nice addition to the lineup. If the Royals struggle, he can serve as a potential trade chip at the deadline. Kansas City just needs to hope that he has learned to throw home over the past two years, at least while he is on the club.
Notable losses: Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Joakim Soria, Scott Alexander, Mike Minor, Melky Cabrera, Jason Vargas, Ryan Buchter
Biggest loss: Lorenzo Cain. Hosmer going to San Diego may generate the most attention, but it is the loss of Lorenzo Cain that may hurt the Royals more.
Cain became a solid all around player with the Royals during the past few years, and that continued in 2017. Last year, he produced an excellent .300/.363/.440 batting line, hitting 15 homers and stealing 26 bases. He also continued his incredible play in center, saving nine runs and leading American League outfielders in range factor per nine innings. Cain was a key part of the Royals focus on contact and defense.
However, he was more than his production on the field. The Cain/Salvador Perez bromance was one of the more entertaining moments in baseball, and a sign of the excellent chemistry in the Kansas City Royals locker room. That chemistry helped make the Royals far greater than the sum of their parts, and may be the biggest loss of the offseason.
What to expect from the Kansas City Royals in 2018
There have been a lot of changes on the Kansas City Royals in the past few months. After appearing as though they would sit out free agency, they ended March with a flurry of moves. But does any of it really matter?
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If the Royals are going to contend, they need to get a lot more from their pitching staff. They never really recovered from the passing of Yordano Ventura, as the rotation struggled for most of the year. Danny Duffy was solid, and Jake Junis showed signs of being a solid middle of the rotation arm, but Ian Kennedy and Jason Hammel bombed. Kennedy battled with injuries and is now healthy, making him a key piece in the Royals hopes.
Likewise, the Royals need more from their bullpen. Kelvin Herrera was mediocre in the closer role, losing the spot at the end of the year to the now departed Mike Minor. Scott Alexander and Ryan Buchter was solid pieces, and have been traded. Can the Royals really trust Wily Peralta in a setup role, as he is projected to be in? As bad as the bullpen was at times last year, it could be worse in 2018.
The offense looks solid. Duda, Salvador Perez, and Moustakas should be a solid combination in the middle of the lineup. Jon Jay is a solid on base machine, and the surprising Whit Merrifield could further emerge as a star. Jorge Soler could become a power threat in his own right. And if the Royals can get any offense from Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon, they may be able to put together a few runs. But will that be enough for the pitching staff?
Next: Royals aren't sending Gordon to the minors
The 2018 campaign could be a long one for the Kansas City Royals. With improvements made throughout the division, they simply do not have the pitching to keep up. Prediction: Fourth place in the AL Central.